Toe straightening device



Dec. 27, 1949 R. J. MULLER TOE STRAIGHTENING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1947Fig.4

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I m'em or Reinhold J. Muller I! 5 Fig 9' mdfiwey E Fig.8.

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED- STATES PATEL-NT oF i-cs 'TOESTRHIGHTENING DEVICE Reinhold J. Muller, Hutchinson; Minn.,. assignor''of one-half to Jesse R..Hayden, Hutchinson,

Minn.

Application Mary-28, 1947 Serial-No. 751;):97

2 Glaiins. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in orthopedicappliances for foot treatment and more particularly to a toestraightening device.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a footappliance for remedying bunions as well as the displacement ofmetatarsophalangeal articulation usually effecting an inward positioningof the big or great toe.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a devicethat conforms to a portion of the foot for straightening the big toe asthe foot is inserted in a shoe.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a toestraightening device that includes novel and improved bunion receivingmeans whereby the device may be worn on a foot in a comfortable positionwithout the necessity of adjusting the device to fit various sizes offeet.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a toestraightening device that is simple and practical in construction,strong and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, andotherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is fragmentary perspective View of a foot and showing thepresent invention applied in position thereto;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device :and showing the inner protectivecovering removed therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the protective inner covering;

Figure 4 is a plan view (if the bunion receiving member;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe plane of section line E5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view of one of the springs used in conjunction withthe present invention;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional of the toe engaging band;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view showing a foot having a disarranged bigtoe for which the present invention is particularly useful incorrecting; and

Figure 9 is a similar view of Figure 8 and showing the present inventionapplied thereto for retaining the big toe in a normal comfortableposition.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose ofillustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the numeral [0 represents a palette-like or spoon-shaped bodyportion of preferably soft leather material and provided with anintegral forward extension I2.

Suitably secured to'the side edges of the extension are the terminalportions of an elastic toe engaging band l4.

Extending longitudinally on the inner face of the body and extension 12,is a pair of spaced parallel spring arms I 5, that afford means forholding the body comfortably against a foot l8- and more particularlywhen the foot is inserted in a shoe.

Disposed over the spring and secured to the body in any suitable manner,is a pad or bunion receiving member 20 having a tapered centrallydisposed bunion seat 2|. Member 20 is preferably of a rubber material tocomfortably receive and conform to the size and shape of a bunion 22 atthe forward inside of the foot.

A second pad 24 is also secured to the inner face of the body, in spacedapart relationship to pad 20, and near the rear portion of the body tocomfortably bear against the foot in order to prevent the rear edge ofthe body or the ends of the spring arms from cutting or injuring thefoot.

Secured to the inner face of the body by cement, stitching or any othersuitable means, is an inner covering or padding member 26 of the samerelative shape as the body I0 and this covering is provided with aforward integral extension 28 conforming to the size of extension I2.

In practical use of the device, the band I4 is slipped onto the inwardlyturned displaced big toe 30 of the foot I8, so that the bunion 22 isadjacent to the seat 2| provided in member 20.

As the foot is inserted into a shoe (not shown) the upper portion of thebody and covering will bear against the forward inside portion of thefoot with the rear portions of the spring arms I6 permitting the deviceto conform to the curvature of the side of the foot and also bending orexerting an outward pressure on the big toe to retain the same in anormal straight position. In this position, the lower portion of thecovering and body will extend beneath the foot, as shown in Figure 9,supporting or padding the outer portion of the foot.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it 3 is believed that a clear understanding of thedevice will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A moredetailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A toe straightening device comprising a flexible body, an innerflexible pad secured to the inner face of said body and conforming tothe shape of said body, a band carried by said body for engaging a bigtoe, a plurality of spaced resilient strips interposed between said bodyand said pad for urging the body and the pad inwardly toward a usersfoot, means secured to the 20 inner face of said body overlying one endportion of said strips to shield the same, and a resilient bunionreceiving member engaging said strips and interposed between said bodyand said pad.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bunion receiving memberincludes a resilient member having a tapered bunion receiving seat.

REINHOLD J. MULLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,055,810 Scholl Mar. 11, 19131,665,030 Hartwig Apr. 3, 1928

